The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-07-24
Before the Interstate Com.
merce Commission.
TREATMENT OF A COLORED MAN
Attaching the Opera Company
American Nabobs - Chess
FOundered-A New Sit.
A CoLoRED PREACHER.
A Peculiar Case before the Inter
State Commission

WASHINGTON, July % The Inter-
State Commerce Commission to-day
gave hearing in the case of William Il
Counsel against the Western & Allan
tic Railroad. Counsel is colored man
who, having purchased a first class
ticket, charges that he was refused per-
mission to ride in frst-clas car, and
was forced to go into the smoking
car. The chairman said: Here were
| charges of unjust discrimination against
it ought to arise upon the facts which
| class citizen If there were such a case
are open to the public and notorious,
aud there ought be no difficulty
in regard to them. The objection is
oVerruled." The charges and responses
were read. After reading a number of
dispositions, Counsel was sworn. He is
a minister of the gospel, and principal
of the State Normal School at Huats-
vile. In reply to inquiries by counsel,
he told the story of his election from
the car in which he had taken his seat
He entered the car without objection on
the part of anyone. He was told by
someone, whom he did not recognize as
| a trainman, that he must go forward
| finally approached by two men, one of
whom carried lantern, and the other
had a hand on his hip pocket The
man with the lantern siezed the wit
ness, hit him over the mead several
times with the lantern, cutting his head
badly, and breaking the glass. Witness
appealed to the passengers, but without
avail. HIS assallaDts seized him tn n
and carried him to the forward Car.
This car was very filthy and full of
smoke. As he was being pushed from
one car to another, the or keman TOLD
him this was what he got for not NOV
ing when requested.
Counsel for respondent opened his
side # the case by reading a series OF
dispositions. The conductor of the
train was sworn and testified in sub
stance that the colOred car on that trip
was similar in construction and APP
pointments to the ladies car, except
that one end was partitioned of
for smoker and was in lit
tie better condition. If white man
should enter the car witness would
request him to go out, and if he refused
witness would make him go. A white
man, unaccompanied by ladies, would
be compelled to enter the smoker, but
after the train starred he might go into
the ladies car, If there was vacant
seat. This practice was in compli-
ance with the bulletin orders of the
road. The orders were not printed.
Witness never did put white man out
of the ladies' car, if he behaved himself
and never heard of 1t being done.
Defendants briefs are two in number
the first maintaining the right of the
road to classify Its passengers on the
color line; the second, discussing the
question of jurisdiction. Complainant s
brief, admitting the right OF classical
ton, maintains that it is the duty of the
railroad to furnish equal facilities and
conveniences for the two races.
The commission, has not cleared Its
docket of the cases assigned for hearing
during the present month.
Commissioner SchoOnmaker left the
city this evening for his home in New
York; his colleagues will probably leave
Washington next week. 1t is their pre-
sent purpose to take rest during the
month OF August and resume public
duties on the 1st of September.